Why drinks don't spill on airplanes?

Question

For example, you get water in a cup, and you place it in your table.
And when the airplane turns to change direction... the liquid doesn't spill! Have you noticed? It moves a little but not as much as the plane's turn... why? Why drinks don't spill on airplanes?

Answer 1

when plane turns, it actually tilts, so the resulting force vector is pointing "down" i.e. perpendicular to surface of the table

since cars do not tilt when turning, you can spill a drink in a car. This is a reason you should not drink and drive, or at least use a cup lid.

Answer 2

While the information about the force in the turn is correct, there is more to it.
If you notice the cups they use are smaller on the bottom and larger on the top. This makes it so that there is more room at the top of the glass to disperse the liquid. The same volume is being shifted but visually it appears to be less. You can actually test this at home if you have a cylindrical and a conical cup. Fill them to the same level then tilt them. You will see the difference then.
Hope this helps.

Kar

Answer 3

I haven't flown that much but I've not noticed it. Fluids spill just as easily, actually better. One thing that sometimes happens though is that they collect drinks as soon after they are delivered as possible. Then when there are zones of turbulence detected, they try to get things secured as best as possible. Around the house I leave cups and dishes out without concern to putting things immediately away. On airplanes they don't want unsecured things left out any longer than needed, because things do spill and they have to clean it up, in a suit, hose, and heels, of course.

Answer 4

drink would spill but it is not that big of a turn. It is all relevant. Think about it. When u r sitting in a car you go 70 miles/hour but you dont feel that you are going that fast. Bcoz all the windows are up.

Answer 5

I just wanted to share that a boy sitting next to me in the airplane spilled his coke on me...but I notice now that it doesn't belong to this question.

Answer 6

Centrifugal force from the planes turn hold the beverage in. Since planes turn at an angle, the force will be mostly straight down in relation to the cup. (It's different in automobiles as cars don't bank when they turn.)

Answer 7

I think it's called centrifugal force, not sure on the word but it's the same law that affects the experiment where you hold a glass of water in in hand and do cartwheels with your whole arm.

Answer 8

I have had stuff spill on airplanes. I don't think there is anything magical about it.

Answer 9

Maybe it has to do a little with the pressurized cabins.